FOUNDER FERTILITY NOTES
Reflections on fertility, health, and the human journey toward creating life.
Drawing from more than two decades of caring for people trying to build families, Dr. Spence Pentland shares observations, clinical insights, and ideas that reach beyond tests, treatments, and protocols.
These notes explore not only what we can do to support fertility, but who we may become along the way – offering perspective, direction, and a more human way to understand the fertility journey.
Managing PCOS by Changing our Cooking Habits
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine abnormality, affecting 6-8% of the female population. There can be a cascade of hormonal imbalances causing irregular menstruation, insulin resistance and weight gain, excess androgens (male hormones) resulting in hair growth and other symptoms, and also systemic inflammation. There are a variety of supplements and strategies that health practitioners recommend to implement in an attempt regulate ovulation and support weight loss and hormonal health,
7 Reasons to Ditch the Coffee During Preconception and Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, you’ve probably been told by your doctor that coffee is completely safe. Some sources specify a limit of 200mg of caffeine per day, which is equal to roughly one cup of coffee. Well, I beg to differ and want to share with you my thoughts on why it’s best to avoid caffeine altogether during preconception and pregnancy.
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can Support IVF
The reasons for choosing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are as diverse and numerous as are the patients themselves, but what people do have in common is a deep rooted desire to love and start a family. IVF/IUI can be challenging as people invest time, energy, and money into a process that is still mysterious and constantly evolving as new technologies are used and innovations in hormonal protocols are made.
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Male Factor Infertility
Approximately 40% of couples who are having trouble conceiving will experience male factor infertility, creating a significant area of interest which is often overlooked by both couples and specialists. From a conventional medicine perspective, there are a several variables at play with respect to male factor infertility, including sperm parameters (morphology, motility, quantity and concentration),
What should I eat during my IVF cycle?
As a naturopathic doctor, I get this question A LOT. Women generally aren’t given very specific guidance around how they should be eating when undergoing fertility treatment since IVF clinics are so busy and there is lots of information like injections, labs, imaging, schedules, etc, to go over without delving into nutrition. However, this often neglected aspect of a woman’s life is of great importance.
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a hormonal and immune system disease in which cells similar to the endometrium or uterine lining, grow outside the uterine cavity, often on the peritoneum or surrounding abdominal organs. Common symptoms include pain and infertility, with pain often worse during menstruation and often with excess clotting. It may also be present around ovulation and during sex (dysparerunia).
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
A syndrome is defined as a group of symptoms that consistently occur together, and with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) the common symptoms women experience are related to hormonal imbalances, specifically, as Dr. Pentland says “the presence of multiple cysts on the ovaries, excess androgen levels (male hormones), irregular ovulation and menstrual cycles, and insulin resistance”.
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
While diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is more common in women as they get older, it can be an issue for younger women as well. The reasons for DOR are numerous, including age, cysts, endometriosis, high body mass index, history of tumours or radiation, or family history. While many of these causes are a result of an identifiable situation,
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Advanced Maternal Age (AMA)
The term ‘advanced maternal age’ (AMA) is misleading, as women of ‘advanced age’ are in reality quite young, usually in their late 30s or 40s. Strong, confident, capable women who have already lived a full life or two and are now ready to consider expanding their family and having a child. The term ‘advanced maternal age’ is relative though,
Explaining the Unexplained (Infertility)
Hearing that you have “unexplained infertility” can be one of the most frustrating things for a couple trying to conceive, yet this is one of the most common “diagnoses” for infertility in North America. There is obviously no specific criteria for this diagnosis other than being unable to conceive*, and not finding any other medical reason for infertility,
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help with Unexplained Infertility
From a person’s perspective, ‘unexplained infertility’ is a frustrating assessment. After testing, time and examination by specialists it has been determined that there is no physiological reason pregnancy is not taking place. According to the government of Canada infertility can be traced to either the man or woman, or a combination of both, and approximately 20% of infertility is unexplained.
How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Can Help You Get Pregnant
In the modern context of reproductive medicine and fertility, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are finding their place and becoming an integral aspect of men’s and women’s reproductive health. Alongside these modalities, a conventional medical diagnosis is an essential way to understand the body and correct treatment often relies on accurate information regarding our hormones,
